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Pot-growing debris again found in Garfield County

For a second time in about a month, Garfield County authorities found discarded debris associated with a marijuana-growing operation.

The Garfield Sheriff’s Department said the new discovery was reported Tuesday on private property on the side of County Road 309 outside Rulison.

Department spokeswoman Jennifer Kelly said about 50 to 60 trash bags of soil were found, along with a fan, some old marijuana leaves “and multiple other things that would indicate a grow operation.”

Early this month, authorities reported finding about three tons of potting soil, venting, fertilizer containers and other items from an indoor marijuana growing operation on Bureau of Land Management land near Rifle.

“We have not made any arrests regarding that, but we have received a lot of tips about it, and it’s still under investigation,” Kelly said.

The discoveries come as Colorado’s medical marijuana businesses are having to comply with new state regulations if they want to stay open, and some medical marijuana retail outlets have had to move or close after Garfield County residents last fall voted to ban them in unincorporated areas.

Authorities believe the discoveries may be linked to the changing regulations. Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Tanny McGinnis said with Interstate 70 passing through the county, it’s possible growers from other counties dumped the items in Garfield County.